Big sister in the National Junior Netball team

By Panchamee Hewavissenti

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21 year old Chamila Darshani Jayawardene is a product of Vidyakara Balika Vidyalaya, Maharagama who recently led the Lankan Junior Netball team to Australia for a friendly tournament. The fine shooter of the Junior team had a pow -wow with the Sunday Observer at the Sport Avenue.

When did you start your school career?

When I was just 12 years.

Did you play any other sport at school?

Yes. I excelled in both Volleyball and Netball at school.

Why did you prefer Netball to any other sport?

Because I had the right height for Netball. I’m 5’ 11 tall. There was tremendous enthusiasm for Netball when I was schooling. Though my parents encouraged me to play volleyball I preferred Netball.

Some of our school mates got the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka in foreign tournaments and when they told us about the exciting experience they had during Netball tournaments, I had a desire to play for the national Netball team.

Have you ever led a school team for international tournaments?

Yes. We went to Australia in 2004 and I was the vice captain of the school team. The second tour was to Korea in 2005.

When did you lead the national Netball team for the first time.

I led the junior team at last year’s Triangular Netball Tournament at Sugathadasa Stadium against Malaysia, Maldives and India. We were the champions.

Who is your coach?

Ms.Thilaka Jinadasa

Do you play for a club?

No.

Where do you Live?

I live at Godagama with my family, my mother and elder brother.

Are you employed ?

Yes. I work at Mass Holdings- Casual line, Mawathagama. I have been working there for two and a half years.

You live at Godagama and work at Mawathagama. So are you boarded there?

Yes.

How often do you visit your family?

Actually I couldn’t go to work for nine months because I was busy with my practice. These days I am staying at home till I go to work after the Hong Kong tour.

What assistance do you receive from you work place?

I was granted duty leave. My colleagues and the management are very helpful. I was sponsored by my office.

I was selected for the job because of my volleyball. There are no facilities at office to play Netball.

Tell us about your recent tour to Australia?

That was a friendly tournament. We have to play at the Asian Games in Hong Kong next month. We played in Australia with several countries such as Singapore, New Zealand, Since Australian team is the world champions playing with them gave us a good experience. They very are very advanced than we are since they have facilities. We couldn’t win at that tournament, but we are not disheartened since we lack those facilities here.

Where did you stay in Australia?

We were put in several houses of Sri Lankans who are domiciled in Adelaide. They took good care of us. We were not nostalgic since those families were very close to us. We miss them.

What were the most exciting moments in your Netball career?

When I was selected captain of the national team and when I won the best shooters title at a tournament in Maldives last year.

How do you handle your team as captain?

It’s easy for me to control these girls because I am the eldest of the team. I always try my best to set an example so that they can follow me.

What response do you receive from your friends?

Wow.. good. If I am at home, there are around ten to fifteen friends at home. They wait till I take leave and come home from Mawathagama. Actually my male friends outnumber females. Though I don’t have a fiance yet.

Do you hope to pursue higher studies?

Yes. I couldn’t do my A/Ls because of the sport career. I hope to do A/Ls within another two years time, because without educational qualifications I will not be able to receive promotions and increment in the job. I try my best to manage studies and sport at the same time.

What is your ambition?

My main ambition is to go settle down in Australia and to be the Senior Netball captain, I think that will take another eight to ten years, I am not sure whether I will be in Sri Lanka by that time.

What will Sri Lankan Netball likely to be in future?

It depends on whether we will be able to win this tournament or not. In case we fail to win . we will not get sponsorship. Any way it is very hard to find sponsors for Netball.

What are your suggestions to improve Sri Lankan Netball?

They should practice regularly. Here in Sri Lanka they practice only when a tournament is nearing. Actually Sri Lankan Netball can be improved if they practice regularly and if they get sponsors.